Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Greek Spider Myth.?

-First, look back at the Greek spider myth.

-Then, decide on a plant or animal that you want to explain.

Remember, although the thing you are describing is real, the way you describe it needs to test the limits of your imagination.

-You also need to remember that ancient storytellers wouldn't have any current knowledge of science.

-Once you've decided what you will explain, think of an interesting title to name your myth.

Greek Spider Myth.?
Donnie, I like you! Really!



Will you do me a favor and read the spider myth until I think of something?

Please - here it is:



http://www.greekspider.com/greek_myth/gr...



OK, it goes like this:





The Story of the Weeping Willow



There was a young woman at some point. She was so beautiful, even the gods courted her and the goddesses were green with envy.

Apollo, the god of the sun, chased and chased her, but her heart belonged to a mortal man.

One day, as they were near the river, Apollo got so jealous on their love, he threw an arrow which hit the man on his chest. He fell and the river took his body away, towards the sea.

Our beautiful girl couldn't stop crying. She remained near the river, to this day, her tears still falling over the waves.



She is what we know today as the weeping... willow.
Reply:what is this you're homework?
Reply:Greek Spider Myth?

When you understand how to work your homework, it will be easy. First know about the myth.



Arachne the Spider

A girl was an excellent weaver, taught by Athena, the goddess. Even nymphs came to admire the girl's tapestry. yet, Arachne was so arrogant that she challenged Athena to a contest.



Athena appeared as an old woman and asked Arachne not to challenge any god. Yet, the girl was rude to the woman, so that Athena revealed herself and declared the contest to be on.



Athena wove her best piece, yet, she had to admit that Arachne's was even better. In rage, Athena destroyed the tapestry of the girl, so that the girl wanted to die. yet Athena did not allow her to die but transformed her into a spider and sentenced her and her descendants to eternal weaving, suspended on a thread. To this day, the spider family is called arachnide.



So far the story (details at http://www.geocities.

com/pelionature/

mythology_

Arachne.htm - all one line, no interruptions or breaks; this system here would probably not print the web address without abbreviation.



What is the pattern of the story you obviously have to follow to make your own?



A girl is talented but misbehaved. She is arrogant to her teacher (Athena) and the elders (Athena disguised).



When she challenges her teacher, she delivers what she had claimed, yet, it was not for her best. She got punished for her arrogant behavior by being transformed into a spider - to eternally weave.



Instructions (if I understand them correctly):

1) Read the myth and think about it.

2) Create your own myth by choosing a plant or an animal into which somebody will be transformed.

3) Describe the story as if real.

4) Use the limits of your imagination.

5) Do not use explanations/descriptions of modern science.

6) Find a good title for the myth you created.

7) Done.



What person would you want to transform, may be a Prince?

What plant or animal would you want to choose for the transformation? How about a bat?



Now you can make your story. Please make your own.

As an example:

The Prince lives in a big castle and has servants. He has a good life and anything he could possibly wish. Even the moon started shining at his demand, and the sun would rise at night if he said so.



The Prince had a nice bed with canopy and a wonderful view out to the park with its flowers and lake. He saw the glow worms in summer nights and the snow geese in winter. When he went to bed, his servants brought him his warmed pajama and a piece of chocolate and sang heavenly songs until he was asleep.



Yet, the Prince was disrespectful to his servants, bossed them around, unthankful, ever demanding more. The poor servants could not take it any longer and asked the mighty castle magician for help. He saw their point and one night gave the Prince a last chance to better himself. The mighty magician, disguised as servants, brought the Prince the pajama and the chocolate, asking for a simple word, "Thank you."



The arrogant Prince yelled back that the lowly servants had to be thankful that he accepts the pajama and the chololate from them, he the Prince!



The magician saw no way to better the Prince and decoided to transform him into an animal and called him bat. Bat, to remind him of his nice, comfortable bed in the beautiful castle.



Now, as bat, the former Prince was hanging upside down to sleep, instead of being comforted in his bed. Instead of sleeping in a castle he was in a clammy cave, and instead of the beautiful views he saw gray granite of the cave walls.



He forever dreamed of having servants and saying to them, "Thank you." Yet, it was too late. He was a bat for eternity. That's how the bat was created and why it sleeps upside down in a cave.



A title? E.g. Why the Bat Sleeps Upside Down

Or

The Bed and the Bat





Hope this story will spark your fantasy to create your own myth, letting your fantasy run wild, following the pattern given by your teacher.



Much success!

I like your homework!
Reply:DAPHNE was a Naiad nymph of the river Peneios in Thessalia or the Ladon of Arkadia. She was loved by the god Apollon who pursued her until she grew exhausted, cried out to Gaia for help and was transformed into a laurel tree.



http://www.theoi.com/Nymphe/NympheDaphne...



LEUKE (or Leuce) was an Okeanid Nymph abducted by Haides to the Elysian Fields where she was transformed into a white poplar.



Her story was probably connected with the white poplars which grew on the banks of the river Akheron in Thesprotia, a region famed for its Oracle of Haides.



http://www.theoi.com/Nymphe/NympheLeuke....



MINTHE (or Mintha) was a Naiad Nymph of Mount Minthe in Elis, southern Greece who was loved by the god Haides. When she claimed to be superior to Persephone, the goddess transformed into a mint plant.



http://www.theoi.com/Nymphe/NympheMinthe...



Kyparissos. A young prince of the island of Keos loved by the god Apollon. When he killed himself following the death of his beloved pet stag the god transformed him into the cypress tree. (Source: Ovid)



For more about plants and Greek Myths :



http://www.theoi.com/Flora1.html


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